The Son of Neptune

Hazel Levesque is the daughter of Pluto and a New Orleans gris-gris queen, Marie. Hazel can find and unearth hidden treasures in the ground, mostly precious metals and jewels. However, anyone who possesses the items Hazel unearths is eventually struck by tragedy. Hazel sees it as a curse, because her mother tried to use Hazel’s gift to get rich but became an outcast because of the results. Hazel struggles with her self-identity because of her difficult relationship with her mother and the fact that her father was not a part of her life. Hazel relives many moments of her past and comes to understand why her mother treated her the way she did and accepts the struggles they shared.

Hazel was born in 1928, and her experiences are far different from those of the other kids at Camp Jupiter. She is an outcast among the other campers and is burdened with her own secrets, preventing her from making intimate friendships. No one knows that Hazel died in 1941 and was brought back from the Underworld by her half-brother, Nico di Angelo. Hazel feels guilty for living again when so many others are still locked in the Underworld. Her guilt grows as she feels she is betraying Frank and Percy by not telling them immediately that she should be dead. In addition, Hazel is haunted by the fact that Gaea possessed her mother in 1941 and used Hazel to raise Alcyoneus from the earth when they moved to Alaska. She feels guilty for the impending war ahead, knowing she was instrumental in almost awakening a giant, and shoulders her mother’s death as responsibility as well. Hazel shares her past with Percy and Frank enough for them to help her work through her guilt, as they understand that she was an only child with no true guidance. Hazel finally redeems herself completely when she kills Alcyoneus at the end of her quest to free Thanatos.

Frank Zhang is the son of Mars and Captain Emily Zhang. Frank’s mother was a member of the Canadian military and died trying to save her fellow soldiers. Frank begins the novel very angry with his mother for leaving him for a bunch of strangers. She died before she could tell Frank his family legacy or who his father was. Frank only learns that Mars is his father when Mars himself comes to Camp Jupiter to send Frank on a quest to save Thanatos.

Frank is a large boy, and he feels clumsy and useless most of the time. Most of the demigods at Camp Jupiter have gifts that allow them to do amazing things, but Frank does not have any true powers that he is aware of. He is an impressive tactician, but he doesn’t get the chance to explore this part of himself often, therefore he doesn’t trust in it.

Frank doesn’t know a lot about his family history, and what little he does know leads him believe that his family is cursed. As the novel progresses and Frank meets his father and learns the secrets of his family’s legacy, he begins to form a picture of his ancestors that is more complex than he ever believed. Eventually, he concludes that he comes from an ancient line of heroes. It is through this journey of learning about his family that Frank comes to appreciate his ancestors as unsung heroes. With his knowledge, he embraces this legacy and accepts the gifts that he has inherited from his ancestors and gains a new sense of self-confidence.

Nico is the son of Pluto and Hazel’s half-brother. Nico met Percy Jackson in the previous series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Nico offers Frank, Percy, and Hazel a great deal of information before they leave on their quest to find Thanatos. Nico knows more about the war between the gods and Gaea than anyone else, but he keeps most of his information to himself.

Nico is a quiet, almost mysterious character who plays a minor, but important role. His knowledge prepares Frank, Percy, and Hazel for their quest, and his strong sense of family is the only reason Hazel is in the mortal world to help with the quest. Nico plays a part in the Prophecy of Seven, but his role is not completely revealed.

Reyna is the daughter of Bellona, the Roman goddess of war. Reyna met Percy when he released the prisoners on the island where she lived, allowing them to destroy the island and the only home Reyna and her sister had known. When Reyna first sees Percy enter Camp Jupiter, she is angry and wants to destroy him. After learning that he has lost his memories and has come to the camp with Juno’s blessing, she decides to give him a chance.

Reyna is a strong leader who manages to stand up to nay-sayers, such as Octavian, with grace and a show of equality. She privately struggles without her friend, Jason Grace, by her side. Reyna reveals her weakness only to Percy because she believes she can trust him despite what he and Annabeth did to her former home. Reyna is a good judge of character, and she sees in Percy his determination to fight for what is right. When Frank, Hazel, and Percy return victorious and help end the battle with Polybotes, Reyna’s trust is proven justified. She understands her role as camp praetor as she is personally relieved, but she remains vigilant in front of Octavian and others who doubt Percy and the Greeks.

Juno is the Roman version of Hera, the goddess of marriage and childbirth. She presents as an elderly woman when Percy first sees her, contrasting her true image. Juno is responsible for Percy’s memory loss and the Greek and Roman confusion, as she reveals that she knows the gods will need help from the demigods to win the war against Gaea. Percy’s reactions to Juno reflect his relationship with the more-combatant Hera, but she takes on a more strategic background role for the purpose of the war ahead. Juno is a key motivator for the plot as she forces Percy’s role in the Roman camp to prepare for Gaea’s war. She presents Percy with an opportunity for growth as he can see that Juno’s methods might leave something to be desired, but her motives are pure. Juno is trying to stop Gaea.

Mars is the Roman version of Ares, the god of war. Percy fought Ares in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, so he does not trust his counterpart in Mars. Mars proves to be another motivator for the plot as he helps the demigods at Camp Jupiter prevent Gaea’s forthcoming war. Mars spurs Frank’s growth as he charges him with a quest to free Thanatos from Alcyoneus, forcing Frank to growth in his own power and family knowledge along the way. Though he is described with flames in his eyes at the bedside of Frank’s grandmother, Mars reveals an intimate sense of humanity he isn’t known widely for. In his efforts to relate to Frank and help him to discover his family gift, he provides Frank with the agency he has lacked throughout the narrative. Mars is not patient, nor is he overly helpful, but he cares about Frank and inspires a sense of duty and self-confidence in his son that Frank struggled with previously.

Tyson is a cyclops and Percy’s half-brother, as they share the same father, Poseidon. Tyson searches for Percy throughout the novel, growing frustrated each time he reaches a place where Percy had been but finds him gone. Tyson’s presence is at first murky, characterized as an echo of sorts. His presence grows and is fully realized as Percy regains his memory, serving as a symbol for Percy’s past returning to his mind. Percy reaches out to Tyson through his dreams, demonstrating the bond Percy has with his past and his relations through Poseidon. Tyson was badly abused as a child and bears the scars of this abuse, but he is a very happy, kind person who would not hurt anyone unless given a good reason. Tyson represents an innocence Percy attempts to defend through his dangerous, heroic acts as he maintains his strong sense of loyalty to his friends. Tyson is Percy’s first connection to his life at Camp Half-Blood to find him at Camp Jupiter.